How Nevada School Star Ratings Work

Every public and charter school in Nevada gets a star rating from 1 to 5 each year. Every school in the state gets measured the same way, which makes it the closest thing to an apples-to-apples comparison parents have. But the number alone doesn't tell you much. What goes into it?

What Is the NSPF?

The Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF) is Nevada's official school accountability system, administered annually by the Nevada Department of Education. It evaluates every publicly-funded school and assigns two things: an index score from 0 to 100, and a star rating from 1 to 5.

The NSPF covers all 17 county school districts plus the State Public Charter School Authority. A rural Elko elementary and a Las Vegas charter get judged by the same criteria. That consistency is exactly why the rating matters.

The Six Components

Academic Achievement measures the percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards in ELA, Math, and Science — the most heavily weighted component at most grade levels.

Academic Growth captures how much each student's scores improved year over year. A school with modest proficiency but strong growth is doing something right — and will outscore a school coasting on an advantaged zip code.

Closing Opportunity Gaps examines whether historically underserved groups are progressing at the same rate as their peers. High overall proficiency can hide significant gaps.

Graduation Rate applies to high schools only. Both the 4-year and 5-year rates factor in. In 2024-25, Nevada's statewide rate reached 85.4% — its highest on record.

College and Career Readiness covers AP and dual-enrollment credits, industry certifications, and ACT/SAT benchmarks.

Chronic Absenteeism penalizes schools where more than 10–20% of students miss 10%+ of the school year. Nevada's 2024-25 rate of 25.6% is above the national average.

What Each Star Level Means

In 2024-25, 146 Nevada schools earned 5 stars — up from 96 the year before.

• 5 Stars: Index scores typically above 80. Consistently outperforming state targets.
• 4 Stars: Solid performers with room to improve in one or two areas.
• 3 Stars: Meeting state targets in most areas. About 30% of Nevada schools.
• 2 Stars: Falling short in multiple categories.
• 1 Star: Persistent underperformance. Designated for intensive state intervention.

The Index Score Adds Precision

Two schools can both sit at 4 stars with index scores of 63 and 79 — a real gap the star alone hides. Every school profile on NevadaSchools.org shows the full index score so you can compare within a tier.

How to Use This

Use star ratings to build your shortlist. Then dig into the individual metrics: which subjects are strongest, is the school growing, is absenteeism low? The rating narrows the field. A visit makes the call.

Compare every Nevada school's NSPF data at NevadaSchools.org.